SKY SIGN FOUND AND RUMBLING
NOISES
HEARD FROM DOUBTFUL BAY AND
MUNJA AREAS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

REF. MAP DERBY. 8m. - 1"

REPORT - SKYSIGN.

On December 7 at Map ref 224963,
Lieut. Thompson's (sic Thomson - see Update below) patrol came upon a skysign. 7, small 8 on side D. Diagram
attached hereto.

The sign was made of black stones on
white saltpan, fringed by mangroves on one side and a steep hill on the other so
that it stood out strongly. The seven was made of double lines of stones, the D
of a single line.

All was in excellent condition
except the small 8 on side, which may have been a degree mark. One or more King
tides had been over the sign and had disturbed the 8 somewhat.

The native guides said that this
sign was not native work. They also stated that at this place Kunmunja natives
used to contact Japanese and work for them for months at a time.

This sign was found by pure
accident. There may be many more.

I do no think an airman would need a
direction sign in this area, as the coast is so distinctively seen from above
that? any child could locate itself.

Skysign has been removed. It was
situated beside a deep inlet which runs inland about 12 miles. It is useless
looking for this inlet on a map, for maps of that area are remarkably reticent.

This brings up the question of
natives. The Munja natives under Reid are well controlled, but Kunmunja natives
under weak, useless missionary ??? are doubtful. They have a long history of
association with the Japs, especially at the very point where the skysign was
found. I would like to see Holmes? kicked out and one of my men at his pedal?
act, and Reid in charge of the natives.

The noise which resembles that of
distant conveyer belt machinery comes from the direction of Doubtful Bay and is
probably a natural phenomenon. But I am not completely satisfied that it is.

It vanished while the troops were in
Doubtful Bay area and recurred as soon as they moved out.

In view of the skysign and the
noise, I would suggest that a picked party of say six men be sent to Munja by
air? to thoroughly explore the area, remaining say two months.

This noise is rather strange,
sometimes sounding quite close. The scarped? ranges and gorges may possess some
acoustic properties. At Munja it seems always to come from Doubtful Bay area. It
is intermittent, usually starts before dawn and may last for hours.

It has no relation to stars? or
tide, but comes in all weathers and all tides.

My first thought was that the Japs
might be engaged in mining but it often seems too loud for that.

It is a queer country for noise.
Terrific explosions have been heard but never explained.

Once the noise sounded so close to
Munja that the Staff and natives prepared to take to the scrub and fight.

Until I can ???? every gorge, valley
and cove, we can only guess at the origin of the noise. The wet chased us out
last time but a small party could remain in spite of the rain.

There is a good 1,000 yard drome at
Munja and Ansons could get in.

500 lb. weight of correct food would
carry a party of 6 of my men through two months.

But they would require U.S. Jungle
Outfits to endure the Wet Season.

UPDATE:-
I was contacted by Alan Thomson on 10 March 2008. Alan is the son
of Lieutenant David M. Thomson
who was a member of the "3rd Tactical Guerilla Warfare Group" also known as the
"3rd Australian Corps Guerilla Warfare Group" and his service records states :-

"Guerilla Warfare Wing" under Major George
Mitchell.

Both Thomson and Mitchell later went on to serve
in the 43rd Landing Craft Company in New
Guinea. Lt. Thomson was an Instructor for that unit and was then in the
Kimberleys from Nov 42 to Sep 43 before heading to
Canungra Jungle Warfare Centre and
New Guinea. Service records say nothing of the Skysign mission.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I'd like to thank Daniel Hultgren of the The
Australian Bunker Projectfor his assistance with
this home page. I'd also like to thank Alan Thomson for his assistance with this
web page.